Ignite Your Manufacturing Business Growth
in Sumter County, Florida
Sumter County’s manufacturing industry generates products ranging from watercraft to above ground fuel storage tanks. Excellent highway, rail, airport, and seaport infrastructure facilitate the movement of these goods between suppliers and consumer markets. Sumter County’s unique proximity to various universities in the region further enriches the manufacturing ecosystem by supplying the labor force needed to thrive.
Industry Incentives for Manufacturers
Sumter County embraces a diversified economy to offset adverse impacts of market fluctuations and support the domestic production of goods. Sumter County offers a targeted manufacturing cash incentive coupled with a targeted manufacturing research and development (R&D) incentive. These incentives are independent of any state grant funds obtained by the business unless otherwise stated in the written agreement between Sumter County and the manufacturer.
Incentive Guidelines:
The industry incentive applies to new or existing businesses in the manufacturing industry as specified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and approved by Sumter County Economic Development as a qualified manufacturer.
A minimum capital construction investment of $500,000 to real property located within Sumter County, Florida is required.
The manufacturing cash incentive is calculated as follows:
The total payout amount for existing manufacturers is up to 12% of the company’s building capital investment, not to exceed a maximum of $1,000,000 per year, for a combined total of $3,000,000 over three years*.
The total payout amount for new manufacturers is up to 10% of the company’s building capital investment, not to exceed a maximum of $1,000,000 per year, for a combined total of $3,000,000 over three years*.
If the new or existing manufacturing expansion includes an R&D component, the company may be eligible for an additional 1% of the building capital investment incentive as calculated above.
Payout amounts for the manufacturing cash incentive (with or without the R&D component) are paid by the county in three equal payments as follows:
The first payment is processed on the opening day of the facility in the amount of one third (1/3) of the incentive, provided company received a certificate of occupancy.
The second payment is processed one year after the first payment is made in the amount of one third (1/3) of the incentive.
The third payment is processed one year after the second payment is made in the amount of one third (1/3) of the incentive.
The manufacturing incentive is limited to three (3) years and the business must reapply each year.
Proof of investment is required before an incentive payment is made to the business in the form of a copy of the Building Permit Application noting the original Declared Value as submitted to Sumter County.
* The county’s obligation to provide incentive funding is limited based upon the availability, appropriation, and approval of funds in the county’s budget and subject to the terms of the incentive agreement.
Transportation
Sumter County represents a distribution hub unique in the state, strategically located at the crossroads of I-75, Florida’s Turnpike and CSX Rail’s main freight line.
Roads
Interstate 75 and Florida’s Turnpike
US Highway 301 and US Highway 27
State Roads 44, 48 and SR 50
Airports
Orlando International (1 hour)
Tampa International (1 hour)
Leesburg Regional (20 minutes)
Seaports
Port of Tampa (1 hour)
Port Manatee (1.25 hours)
Port Canaveral (1.75 hours)
Port of Jacksonville (2.5 hours)
Port of Miami (4 hours)
Rail Service
CSX rail is an integral element of the Sumter County transportation hub. CSX’s S-line industrial rail runs the entire north-south length of the county, providing Sumter businesses major distribution advantages.
CSX currently rolls 15 to 25 trains per day through Sumter County, each pulling up to 90 freight cars, serving 23 states over their 21,000 mile rail network.
Market Access and Export Capabilities
While it’s true that Sumter County isn’t located directly on the coast, that’s been little impediment when it comes to our international trade. Interstates, rail lines and nearby ports provide an excellent network of transit points for your products, tools and imports. And as a bonus, our inland location is less susceptible to hurricane damage while also being significantly less expensive than a location directly on the Gulf or Atlantic coasts.
A number of export resources from counseling to financing also exist for distribution businesses in the County.
Business Data
Transportation
Highways: I-75; Florida Turnpike; US Hwy 301; SR 44, SR 48, SR 50
Airports: Orlando Intl. (1 hr.), Tampa Intl. (1 hr.) and Leeburg Regional Airport (20 mins.)
Seaports: Deepwater Ports of Tampa (1 hr), Manatee (1.5 hrs.), Jacksonville (2.5 hrs.), Canaveral (2 hrs.) and Miami (4 hrs.)
Rail Service: Industrial rail service by CSX Transportation’s main Eastern Seaboard freight line (S-Line)
Education
● School System “A Rated” for five consecutive years by State Board of Education
● Lake Sumter State College partners with Sumter County Schools and UCF to offer Bachelor’s degrees, vocational certificates and technology diplomas
● Regional campuses of UCF located nearby in Leesburg and Clermont
● USF and UF, both top national research institutions, are an hour away in Tampa and Gainesville respectively
Sumter Strengths
Location, Location, Location
Sumter County is a major, regional transportation hub for Central Florida at the crossroads of Interstate 75, Florida’s Turnpike and CSX’s main freight line, with access to major airports and seaports less than 90 minutes away.
Incentives
An aggressive local incentive package for targeted industries that includes incentives for manufacturing, distribution and agricultural businesses.
Pro-Business Philosophy
Pro-business county leadership and economic development team with a personal commitment and passion for supporting local businesses.
A Commitment to Business
An Industrial Development Authority whose sole mission is to facilitate business growth and expedite the processing of bonds.